Excellent final book! Just excellent! The tension is absolutely palpable throughout the final few chapters, when Katniss and her team are descending on the Capitol searching for Snow. The loss of Prim comes as a complete shock, and Katniss split second decision to end Coin's life for the greater good, even though it causes her extreme emotional turmoil; is admirable. From the start, I have wanted Gale/Katniss to end up together, but I guess with the "love story" angle being on Peeta/Katniss it couldn't go any other way; and I wasn't saddened that her life was with Peeta; he's a great character and a wonderful guy, but if it were me... Gale... :) The most interesting thing I've found reading these books is that Katniss is rough, rude, not particularly humorous, and in the later parts of the story, mentally unstable.. but I love her. I love her consistency. She never has an OMG! moment where she goes completely out of character for some reason. The person to bring the greatest reaction from her is Prim; who is in fact the polar opposite of her sister in almost every way. Sweet little prologue at the end tells us Peeta and Katniss are together for many years, having two unnamed children, in a world without the horror of the Hunger Games. It's a satisfying end to a fantastic novel ride :) I'm on the look out for anything S.Collins now :)
Review by littleton_pace (LibraryThing), February 19, 2011 Before angry villagers come to my virtual door with pitchforks and burning torches, I would like to say that I enjoyed this novel very much. Did I enjoy it as much as The Hunger Games and Catching Fire? No, I didn’t and I will tell you why I didn’t. Mockingjay was the final showdown. The Districts are in full rebellion against the Capitol or are being taken over by the rebels. Katniss was the unwitting face to this rebellion and finally decides she will accept the responsibility of being the “Mockingjay.” That’s all great, but I am not a big fan of wars and battles. This novel, centering around the revolt against the Capitol, was filled with battles. I could have handled some battle action, but I think there was too much of it. It made me very impatient with the novel because I, as the reader, am invested in Katniss, Peeta, Prim, and even Gale. I felt like their stories took a backseat to the details of the rebellion and the battles. What happened to Peeta and Prim through the course of this novel broke my heart but then put it back together again, and that I loved. I don’t do spoilers so I won’t comment on specifics, but I cried several times throughout Mockingjay and the crying revolved around Peeta and Prim’s stories. Katniss will forever be one of my all time favorite heroines. Her development throughout the course of the trilogy was exceptional. Her bravery in all three novels, particularly this one, is…well, I’m not sure I can find the word for it. What she does and is willing to suffer for her loved ones is regal. I thought the end of Mockingjay was a very fitting end to the trilogy. I have absolutely no qualms with the ending. Katniss ended up with the love interest that I personally was rooting for, and she was an older, wiser, and happier Katniss. I truly enjoyed this novel. I wholeheartedly recommend this book and trilogy. Read it before the movie comes out!
Review by ReadingWithMartinis (LibraryThing), February 15, 2011 LOVED this series. There was one adventure after the next and the human element was never lost. The consequences of their actions was so huge for Katniss. I was glad that Peeta was there for her.
Review by dsshatford (LibraryThing), February 13, 2011 While not quite as gripping as its two predecessors in the Hunger Games trilogy, Mockingjay does bring the events and characters of the previous books to a satisfying conclusion. After being rescued from her second Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen, her family, and her friends face new challenges and questions in the rebellion and war that follows. Suzanne Collins does a good job of developing her characters and showing how war changes people, and yet somehow makes likable characters remain likable and understandable even after the large-scale killing and destruction. The reality television element, in which battles are captured on camera and become important weapons in war, struck me as a little unrealistic, but also in keeping with the media-obsessed society in which this series takes place and forms an almost surrealistic picture of this futuristic world. I must say, after reading the Hunger Games trilogy, I have little desire to watch any reality TV.
Review by wagner.sarah35 (LibraryThing), February 12, 2011 A worthy conclusion to the trilogy. It suffers from the same faults as Catching Fire, namely that as the camera pulls back to reveal more of Katniss' much of it doesn't make a great deal of technological or political sense. But the people in it shine through and Collins tells her story without sugar-coating or wish-fulfillment.
Review by Tyllwin (LibraryThing), February 7, 2011 In this final installment of the Hunger Games trilogy, the plot-line turns into a fun-house mirror of the plots from Hunger Games and Catching Fire. The Hunger Games of the Capitol, and the metaphor that the Games exemplify that's been running through the series, is taken to a logical (in-world) extreme, much like good spy fiction usually does. The thing that got to me most, resulting in my rating this book higher than the previous two, is that Collins managed to preserve the gray area between Good Guys and Bad Guys here, and while there were definite Heroes and Enemies, the people on Katniss' side weren't necessarily right, and the people in the Capitol weren't necessarily wrong, as there's enough cold-blooded calculation, hate, rage, and vengeance going around for them all to get tainted by it. By doing it that way, Collins managed to turn something that could have been another Good Guys action story into something more about what fighting the good fight does to good people, and that there's more to fighting the good fight than just a hero's virtue and duty.
Review by storyjunkie (LibraryThing), February 4, 2011 The final installment of The Hunger Games takes us to new highs and new lows as we follow in the wake of Katniss' escape from the arena. Much of the tension in this book is a continuation of what began in the first: the fear of the games, the distrust of the motives of those around you, the desire to break from from oppression. One new tension is added, however, and it is a very difficult one for the reader to stomach. Peeta and Katniss have never been separated in this way, and the effect of this separation is one of the biggest trials yet for these characters. Once tied together by district and by the games, the characters face new territory without each other to depend on. This new tension makes the third book an unforgettable read. The reader will race to the end to see how Katniss could ever have a happy ending. Along the way, we realize that has never really been a possibility. The best to hope and search for is some measure of peace, some meaning or purpose to hold on to through the madness.
Review by nataliev1311 (LibraryThing), January 25, 2011 Okay. I did like the book. ITs just I have a few things that just were not what I wanted... Heres my list:Well I loved Gale, I wanted her to be with him. I could have been okay with her being with Peeta as long as I knew Gale was okay and that they were still close. But at the end, he just disappeared. I didn't like that at all. It was so unlike him not to come back to 12 to see her. I didn't like how he was just phased out in the end. I think this was my biggest problem. I loved Gale. I at least would have liked them to be friends again. I think she was too hard on him. I mean how many people died from plans she thought of? And her mom should have at least been there for her daughter a little. You'd think she see that as important after losing her husband and daughter. But like I said I get what you are saying and I even see it. It still doesn't make it what I want. Really the mom thing is something so little compared to Gale. I just wanted him around somehow. ANd I wanted them to be okay.Of coarse Prim dying was horrible.And I was so freaking sad about Finnick. He was one of my favorite characters. I really really didn't want that to happen. I think his death was the hardest on me. I mean Prim was really sad too. But for some reason Finnicks death broke my heart. All the others that died I got over. But these 2 were hard. I liked how no one was safe. But still these were hard. But I can accept it.I didn't like how her mom pretty much abandoned her in the end. They were all they had left and her mom wouldn't come and take care of her daughter that has been put through hell and back. I know it would be hard for her to come back to 12, but you would think she'd do it for her own daughter.Those were why I am not sure yet how I feel. But I liked so much too. The war scenes felt real. They didn't sugar coat it and make the good guys always win with no difficulty. Even when they won a battle it was with great loss. It wasn't near misses but actual hits. It was great.I guess too I liked how no one really won. Yes there was a winner but did they really win? They lost so much. It seemed like a lot of the districts are destroyed, there were way too many casualties. It was really just sad at the end. I think if she didn't kill Coin it would have been the same thing as with Snow. SHe was already wanting to do a Hunger Games. That was a really good point to the story. When you are at war, its literally people killing people and so so many die, the good guys, the bad guys, innocent people, elderly and kids. It was really really sad.Oh and I knew Cinna was dead but I was still sad from losing him. ALso I didn't like how no one was really mourned. Her team, Boggs, Cinna, Finnick. We know they died but there wasn't too much emotion coming from anyone. It was quick and then we moved on.It was a strong and powerful book, one I will be thinking about for a long time!!!!
Review by amberic (LibraryThing), January 17, 2011 After Katniss was resecued by the rebels, katniss decides to be come the mocking jay, a symbol of the rebels. She is plans strategies in district 13. First they have to save peeta from the capitol. Peeta was brainwashed to kill katniss. In time they were able to get peeta's mind back. There second job is to kill president Snow. But there are obsticals. Stepping in the wrong spot can kill there group. They have to be careful. They found a way to get to the center of the city. They found out that there is a underground tunnel. There is still alot of obsticals to be careful. They finally get to the presidents dwelling and take him. But in the process her sister died. Katniss in the end kill snow with a bow and arrow. I like this book because it is full of aventure. It gets me excited. It is really a page turner. The way the author describes the action parts are pretty good. I can get that movie in my head what is happening. I hope to be able to read other books written by him.
Review by Bryon.Hancock (LibraryThing), January 10, 2011 Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins NOTE! If you have not read The Hunger Games or Catching Fire, this will reveal spoilers for the first book! Story Title: 5/5 Plot: 5/5 Characters: 5/5 Ending: 4/5 Synopsis: With her home destroyed and Peeta missing, Katniss wakes up to find herself a resident of the fabled District 13. Unfortunately, the district isn't all its cracked up to be, and Katniss finds herself feeling more trapped than ever. Not to mention that those who escaped with her seem to be slowly losing their minds while she's being forced into the role of Mockingjay. Character Likability: Katniss: Have I mentioned my love for the character, Katniss? I love this girl. She's strong, she marches to her own drum, she learns from her mistakes, she fights for what she believes in, she gets broken, as any real person would in her situation... but she allows herself to be mended. In this book, Katniss grows and learns yet again. She's beginning to see the bigger plan, she's beginning to understand that some things never end, no matter how hard you fight... she's pushed to, and past, the point of breaking, and yet, she persists in trying to reach her goal. She is an amazing character... and what makes her so amazing is that she does all of these amazing things... and remains believable. She is filled with just as much questioning and doubt as any of us. Peeta: Absent for a good portion of the book... and then returned... Peeta breaks my heart in this book... and then in pure Peeta fashion, he mends it again. Haymitch: During this book, you're left wondering what, exactly, Haymitch's motives are. Cinna: Despite not physically being in the book, Cinna is still a very motivating character. His Mockingjay outfit is a major reason Katniss takes up the mantle. Prim and her Mother: Used, once again, mainly as motivators for Katniss... Prim is given slightly more voice, and acts more as a support for her sister, while the mother still remains mainly out of the picture. President Snow: Pulling out all the stops in his wicked handbook, President Snow outdoes himself in the evil department. Finnick: Watching Finnick with Annie is almost heartbreaking, and hearing his story IS heartbreaking. I was glad I got to hear what he had to say. It really drove home the need for this system to be destroyed. Briggs: The quiet military man from District 13... he turns out to be possibly one of the truest friends Katniss ever has. President Coin: The president of District 13, she's cold, calculating and not to be trusted. Quality of Writing: Easy, quick flow. Engaging and un-put-downable. (oh yeah, I'm making up words now) Ending: Bittersweet, believable. Plot: District 12 has been destroyed, most of the people Katniss knew, dead. She, along with a few others, including her family and Gale, have been whisked off to District 13 to live underground. At this point, Katniss is starting to lose it. People she loved dearly are dead, most notably, Cinna, her designer from the Hunger Games. Peeta is in the hands of the Capitol and all Katniss can do is imagine the worst. Then, the video interviews with Peeta begin, and he's telling people to stop the rebellion... and Katniss knows she still has to save him... now from District 13 as well, who sees him as a traitor... and that's just the tip of the iceberg. This plot really delves into the political motivations and the extent to which those in power will try to retain it. It's harsh, cruel and believable... which makes it all the more terrifying. The plot of this book is deep, twisted and worthy of more than just a casual read. The ideas being presented here really beg for, and deserve some deep thought on the part of the reader. Believability of World: The most believable yet. It really points out that it's often hard to tell the difference between good and evil. Overall Grade: A
Review by littlebearries (LibraryThing), December 22, 2010 SPOILERS! Well, the battles is over and revolution is won....so why do I feel so let down? Probably because there is absolutely no spark, no drama....none of the raw power of the first two books in this last limp and sorry final volume of the trilogy. Understandbly, the originality of the plot (which I now learn is not all that original, hello, Ms. Collins -- having borrowed extremely heavily from a Japanese novel, Battle Royale) -- has long worn off so you no longer have the shock value of that --- but I had hoped that would be replaced by depths and revelations in this last book. That didn't happen. One more criticism --- since when did all the characters become such, forgive me, crybabies??? Every time you turn around Katniss is having some sort of emotional breakdown. Granted, its not like she hasn't been through a lot...but if I had to read about one more time when she was running off to hide in closet or corner somewhere, yuck!! I mean, she's supposed to be a tough cookie, you know? And A LOT of the plot (hum, boring!) is taken up by that kind of drivel. Last, I think Collins could have done a lot more that would have held your interest with say, the politics of the revolution, how the districts were being run...we never even know who is fighting and where! And finally, there is almost no character development in this book. NONE of the new characters are developed, Gale basically just disappears at the end and Peeta is a quivering mass of psychological damage for most of the book. I'm sorry, but I think Collins was asleep at the switch for the writing of most of this, or maybe too busy counting her royalty checks. The ending -- which is supposed to be a big shocker -- sort of slipped by you in a mass of confusion. It's a shame because the final book could have really pulled some punches. Instead, I had to force myself to read 4-5 pages at a time and then put it down. All the way through to the end. Too bad.
Review by gooutsideandplay (LibraryThing), December 21, 2010 1. THIS BOOK IS AMAZING
2. THIS BOOK IS FANTASTIC
3. THIS BOOK IS WONDERFUL
4.THIS BOOK IS STUPENDOUS 5. THIS BOOK IS SO GREAT THERE ARE NO WORDS FOR IT. Personally, Suzanne Collins is now one of my favorite authors. The 3rd and last book of Hunger Games is amazing. The plot is fantastic. If there are any haters for this book they are wrong. Believe me, this book is one of the best reads yet. The whole series is one of the best yet. It's got you hooked from the first page to the last page. The ending is either good or bad. It matters on if you would rather choose Peeta or Gale. If you don't mind than the ending is okay. I just love this book. Katniss has got you hooked all along with her act of being the main character in this battle. Great read. if you don' pick up this book, your missing out, big time.
Review by lal30367 (LibraryThing), December 15, 2010 Suzanne Collins' "Mockingjay" , the final book in 'The Hunger Games' is a very compelling, fast-paced read that will keep you satisfied even after you turn the last page. The theme of this book varies from romance, for example when the main character, Katniss Everdeen tries to figure out between Gale, her bestfriend and fellow hunter , and Peeta a baker and survivor of the hunger games, whom she thinks she can't survive and wants to spend the rest of her life with; to the theme of vengence and survival against the Capitol. The Capitol is a wealthy place that runs all the districts, set on the land that was known before as North America. Most importantly both themes somehow seem to collaberate into a theme of remembering who the enemy in life actually is. There are many examples throughout 'The Hunger Games' series. For example, placed in the arena of the games every representative, a girl and a boy raffled/ volunteered from the twelve districts are to fight and kill each other and the last one left will be announced the victor. This seems like a cruel thing to do,but occurs because the Capitol wants the people of the districts to see what happens to their children because of previous rebellion against the Capitol. Katniss has a hard time distinguishing who her real enemies are, and who can become valuable allies. In the games instead of manically killing off all competitors, she took a level head and decided to wait things out and find a source of water. In the end she managed to find valuable allies and she and Peeta both survived the games. Katniss figured that either both she and Peeta survive, or both of them die. The Capitol took this as a sign of rebellion since tradtionally there is only one victor. Katniss and the people of the districts begin to realize that the enemy is not each other, but the Capitol is the real enemy. The rich, lucious Capitol that controls everything, and sends Peacekeepers out to enforce strict rules by whipping people; whereas in the poor, starving people in the districts have to tolerate this inequality. There are many themes in this book, but I think the message of remembering who the enemy in life is, because there is more evidence in the books that support that and this message is what makes the books so compelling and provides constant suspense. I would recommend Suzanne Collins', " The Mockingjay " to any reader out there that wants a book that has an brilliant plot and a terrific blend of sci-fi, romance , action , and suspense.
Review by iluvmemories (LibraryThing), December 10, 2010 I was worried this book somehow wouldn’t meet my expectations but I needn’t have worried. It was perfect. The beginning started out a bit slow but it quickly picked up and sucked me in until the end.
Review by mommablogsalot (LibraryThing), December 2, 2010 i think it was a great book would definately recomment it to my family and friends. The story line was continued from the previous two books and the ending was everything I hoped it would be.
Review by anoli (LibraryThing), November 25, 2010 FInal books of series/trilogies are always controversial, and will always have some who LOVE how it ended and some who absolutely HATE how it ended. Personally, I loved how this ended. This final book had a good mix of action and emotion/backstory, and I thought Collins wrapped up the story very well.
Review by mwtemple (LibraryThing), November 24, 2010 This third installment of the Hunger Games builds on the events and the characters of the first two books and delivers an exciting plot with even more twists and turns. The plot is more complex as it involves more of Katniss’s introspection than the action of the first two books. But with the introspection Collins has built even more on the social commentary elements. The ending is also not as neat and tidy as some may want however it is in keeping with the nature of the books. A must read for those who have enjoyed the first two.
Review by pbamy (LibraryThing), November 20, 2010 The nation of Panem is at war. The districts burn with the fierce flame of rebellion, fueled by the very spark the Capitol feared would ignite a revolution. Katniss, the victor of The Hunger Games, the girl on fire, has found herself once again in the midst of a most dangerous game. Now the prize for wining is not just her life, but the lives of those she loves, and the fate of the citizens of Panem. In this new game, just as in the arena, alliances must be formed in order to survive, but in a war waged not only with weapons but with carefully orchestrated propaganda, it is hard to tell what's real and who's side to be on. The old enemy, the Capitol has Peeta and President Snow destroyed District 12, but the new player, President Coin, who leads the rebels, may want more from the Mockingjay than just fueling the rebellion- she may want her to burn in the very fire she started. And then it was over. This is the third and final book in The Hunger Games Trilogy. I tried to read this book as slowly as possible to savor every last word. If you are a fan of this series, you too understand the bitter-sweet feeling that comes with finishing it. While Collins has created a world in which I would never want to live, I now have some very good friends there that I will miss. I suppose the big issue, for a lot of people, was who would Katniss choose? Peeta or Gale? And while she ended up with who I felt she would all along, she made the only choice she should have made- and chose Katniss. I loved this. "Katniss will pick whoever she thinks she can't survive without." So she did. She chose herself. The love triangle in these books was never the story. The story was Katniss. When it was all said and done, I didn't give a flip what boy stayed in her life, he was only ever a supporting character. The trilogy itself was epic. However, for me, the final book wasn't. I didn't like Finnick's confession. It seemed strategically placed for shock value when the story was all ready shocking enough in it's entirety. I thought it was overkill. I didn't like who Gale became. I always preferred to think of him as a good old soul, in contrast to Peeta's calculated and manipulative nature. But I loved the twist. When Katniss let loose that final arrow it was all I could do not to scream! And I love stinky, grumpy old Haymitch. I love that we are given so many bad guys that you couldn't trust anyone. Except your hairdresser. Collins gets that a good stylist is worth fighting for. And though I usually don't like story lines that take this direction- I loved the final "gift" Katniss gives Peeta. He deserved them. I read an article last week in which some stuffy curmudgeon complained about the violence in Mockingjay and when are we going to examine violence in children's literature and I laughed. Stupid, the first book was about CHILDREN KILLING CHILDREN in an arena, basically for survival AND FOOD and then there is a WAR. What did you expect Mockingjay to be about? Bunnies? War is NOT kind- regardless if it's in fiction and it doesn't care if there are children involved. Collins stayed very true to human nature. She waged a war that was manipulated by scripts and make-up and put it on TV for the masses to gawk at. It's an ugly concept and she portrayed it beautifully. Well played Ms Collins. Well played.
Review by lifeafterjane (LibraryThing), November 17, 2010 This week I read the Hunger Games trilogy, by Suzanne Collins. And by week I mean three days, of course. Thank goodness I stared reading those after they were all already out–if I had had to wait for the last book, I might have staged a holdup of Scholastic’s offices. I first heard of these books from one of my students last year,-but it took me a while to actually pick them up. Once I did, I didn’t stop. After I finished the last page of book three, I felt so emotionally drained there was nothing to do but take a nap. They were written well, but not out of this world amazingly so–it was the story that drove me on.
Review by emilycsims (LibraryThing), November 16, 2010 Warning - There will be spoilers for those who have not read any of the series. If the discussion after the release of Mockingjay is any indication, Suzanne Collins knows how to get her audience thinking. Global warming, political collapse, sacrifice - no matter how readers felt about the story itself, they were all discussing certain aspects of it. They debated the horror behind the Hunger Games, the rage and impotence towards the Capitol and President Snow, Katniss' behavior, and so much more. To that extent, Ms. Collins definitely succeeded. I ended up reading Mockingjay twice in order to ensure I absorbed the lessons Ms. Collins wanted her audience to learn. I love the way the series ends. My initial thought that it is a perfect ending to an amazing series has not wavered. On this, I remain convinced. What struck me most on the re-read was the emotions of the reader. During The Hunger Games, the reader is left in shock at the games themselves and the impotence Katniss feels at being part of them. After finishing Catching Fire, the reader is filled with rage at the pawn that Katniss has become, as well as at the cliffhanger that kept people guessing for a year. With Mockingjay though, the reader is filled with a tremendous sense of despair. The people throughout Panem are damaged beyond repair, especially the Games' previous victors. So much has happened to our beloved characters that the readers will never be the same. Much has been made about Katniss and her behavior in Mockingjay. Is she too depressed? Why doesn't she embrace her role as the Mockingjay more than she does? What struck me is the fact that Katniss is not as politically savvy as some readers may have thought. In fact, she is the most politically naive person in the novel. This is her largest weakness because it is the means by which everyone - from the Capitol to District 13 and back again - manipulate her and coerce her into actions she does not want to do. She never intended on being a leader, yet she was forced to become one for an entire country. This leads her to be pushed beyond her breaking point. No wonder she spends most of the novel rehashing her decisions and the impact they have had on others. All she has ever wanted, from the first moment the reader meets her, is to take care of her loved ones, but she has never been allowed to do only that. Katniss' role as the Mockingjay is a true tragedy because it is a perversion of her original role as caretaker. On subsequent readings of the first two novels, it becomes very apparent that Gale is never meant to be a love interest. The fact that he became one through overzealous readers does his character a disservice. He gave her the means and the will to fight for her own survival as well as for the survival of her loved ones, but for Katniss, Gale will always remain just a friend. The reader sees this in Gale's reaction to the war. Katniss states that Gale's message has always remained the same; he has always preached treating the Capitol the way the Capitol treated the districts. As Katniss sees the repercussions of this treatment, she was bound to pull away from Gale because he stood in direct opposition to what she hoped to achieve. In a way, he was implicit in her manipulation, and that is something she will never be able to forget. It is understandable, then, how they end up living in two different districts leading very separate lives. As for the much-maligned epilogue, to me, it is a fitting ending. Rather than viewing her children as a cop-out, I feel it is the first time in all three novels where the reader gets an inkling of hope for mankind. Man might continue to fight for limited resources and tear each other apart for power, but as long as we have the children, there is hope. Katniss did not cave to pressure by Peeta but rather has healed to the point where she too can have hope. It is the ultimate triumph over everything both Peeta and she have been forced to experience. There is beauty and peace in her motherhood, something Katniss has never been able to experience prior to that. Throughout the series, Ms. Collins shows the reader just how idiotic and dangerous the fascination with reality television can be, as well as the slippery slope of war. In addition, Katniss and Peeta are characters that rightly earn a position among the best literary couples thanks to their struggles, and subsequent triumph over them. Simply put, Mockingjay is a phenomenal ending to a fantastic series.
Review by jmchshannon (LibraryThing), November 11, 2010 The war between the rebels and the capital reaches its thrilling climax in Mockingjay, the third and final book of the Hunger Games series, and Katniss Everdeen is squarely in the middle of the conflict. With no home to return to, Katniss and the survivors of the District 12 find themselves at the mercy of President and the population of District 13, the rebel base. President is determined for Katniss to become the symbol of the rebellion—the mockingjay. But what will happen to Peeta, who is still in the clutches of the capital, if she agrees? And what would be the results of adding fuel to the fire of the war that Gale seems to want so badly? Mockingjay follows the painful path of Katniss--who wants no part of leading a rebellion-- but realizes that, in many ways, the hunger games are still very much in play. Her character develops to a fullness that was not achieved in the previous two books, and the other characters are more fleshed out as everyone is forced to live through the horrors of war. Although the beginning is slow, Mockingjay quickly gathers steam and will keep readers on the edge of their seats. With events that are just as stomach –churning and moving as the first two books, Mockingjay wraps up the series with an ending the is both moving and fitting. This book is not a stand-alone novel, but fans of the series will quickly pluck it off the shelves. Recommended for grades 7 and up.
Review by karafrib (LibraryThing), October 22, 2010 Any of the rest of you who have posted reviews for this know what I'm going through. In order to make sure this review is spoiler free, I can't share half the things I loved/liked/was surprised by in this book. No, instead I'll have to write a vague and hopefully semi-accurate depiction of why this book was an epic ending to the an already epic trilogy. So please, people who have read Mockingjay bear with me. For those of you who haven't yet read it, well first off what are you waiting for! Second, I'll be nice and keep it spoiler free okay? As we all know from the ending of the last book, Katniss has been saved from the arena and Peeta is nowhere to be found. The book opens with Katniss living in District 13 with the rebels who saved her. Despite her weak body and partially crushed spirit, I still can honestly profess my undying love for Katniss even in this book. She is different than the girl that we followed through the first two books, but only slightly. Seeing her in this light was a bit like seeing someone transform. I loved it. Keeping it short, the overall story was great and extremely fast paced. I think Suzanne Collins expertly navigated Katniss and Peeta AND Gale's stories, allowing the each their own spotlights. It was impressive how she dealt with the love triangle aspect of it all, and I wasn't disappointed at all. Yes, the ending is questionable. I'm sure even if you haven't read the book you know that from hearing people talk. However I thought that under the circumstances, it was a well thought out ending. We all know Katniss can't end up with both boys. I know we're all on our own "Teams", but hey. Someone had to win out. Love is all I have for this book! If you haven't read it, please do! If you haven't even started The Hunger Games trilogy...well then you're insane. GO NOW!
Review by roses7184 (LibraryThing), October 19, 2010 While reading this book I continuously said “this is soooo good” over and over and over again. I made the comment that it’s great to have a book that is so enjoyable to read. The book made 5 stars on my list before I was even a fourth of the way through it. It stayed at 5 stars the entire time I was reading, that’s how much I loved this book. There was no dull moment or any moment that I wanted to read quickly through. Every chapter, every bit of the book was wonderful. This book, along with the rest of the trilogy is one that I would truly read aloud to other people in order to get them to read it. All of the favorite characters are back within this story and a number of them have had drastic changes. There are new issues that arise, some that are never quite solved, but that is realistic and the way it should be. I’m happy that I only broke down and cried once during this book, but it was justly needed at that point, and goes to show you how well written the book is. (I’m not a big book crier. Movies are a different thing.) The only problem I have with the book is that now it’s over and that makes me so very sad! Guess I will have start rereading the trilogy!
Review by highvoltagegrrl (LibraryThing), October 18, 2010 I didn’t think I would be reviewing this book this soon. When I put it on hold at the library, I was 48th in line and wasn’t expecting to even read this book before next year. I was surprised when my hold came in much earlier than expected. I also surprised myself by showing a tad bit of restraint by waiting until I finished my current read before starting this one. When this book came out, I read all the reviews, even the ones with spoilers because I like spoilers. I read the last few pages of this book before I was 20 pages in and knew how it ended which made reading the book much easier for me. If I can’t figure out where something is going, I read ahead, but if I know even basically how it will end, I will stick to the process of turning each page in order. I wanted to be able to read this book without being annoyed at not knowing so I took a few liberties at the beginning. So what did I actually think of this book? In the interest of not giving too much away and providing spoilers (I know not everyone loves them as much as I do.), I’m going to do a very brief overview and then move onto my thoughts. With books in a series, I always find it hard not to give too much away since so much of the story depends on the endings of the previous books. Katniss Everdeen, survivor of two Hunger Games, is now the symbol of the revolution against the Capitol. She’s hurt physically and mentally and barely surviving day-to-day let alone a revolution. Reluctantly, she agrees to become the Mockingjay for the revolution as long as she gets a few things: they rescue Peeta and the other Hunger Games participants that can be found, grant them immunity, and she gets to kill President Snow. Great parts of this book left me annoyed and some of it left me underwhelmed. The tension that built up in The Hunger Games and Catching Fire felt lost here much the same way Katniss was. I wanted more than bombing raids and body counts and I wanted less of Katniss being in a daze hiding in closets afraid of the world beyond the walls she doesn’t even feel safe behind. Once again, the story is told by Katniss but when she’s too busy twirling the bracelet that labels her mentally unstable to tell it to you, it suffers. And, yes, the Team Gale/Team Peeta thing…I was so annoyed by this whole love triangle thing. Kiss Gale one day, kiss Peeta the next day. It was awkward and annoying and in the end she basically waited it out until one of them made the decision for her. She became incapable of making any decisions or understanding her own feelings. Now, that last paragraph doesn’t mean I didn’t like the book because I did. The politics of the revolution are interesting, they have to be as the story pretty much runs on them, and seeing some of the old characters return was a nice touch. It also moves fast, really fast. It was an emotional ride and once it had you, kept you there wondering what would happen next. I can’t in anyway say it was a bad read. I was riveted to this book and thought about it for days after so obviously it had some affect on me. Katniss is meant to infuriate and annoy and she played the role perfectly here. Being the last book in the trilogy though, I think I was hoping for more, unfortunately I don’t really know what that more is. If you’ve read the previous books in this series, The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, you’ll most likely not want to miss this one.
Review by justabookreader (LibraryThing), October 15, 2010 Hunger Games captivated me. Catching Fire, not so much, but still liked it. Mockingjay stayed more present moment (not so many flashbacks) and, for the most part, moved in not so predictable directions. There was only one short section where my interest waned, which happened more frequently in the other two books (again, flashbacks). Some of Katniss's speeches in the first half of the book had an emotional impact and gave me chills. Katniss is clearly a fallible character, and at times a bit too cold and calculating, but remained strong and human throughout this book. I was annoyed with the love triangle in the second book but felt satisfied with its resolution in Mockingjay. I had a hard time visualizing some of the scenery in the end game but it didn't deter me. As I neared the end, I was afraid the ending was going to become a cliffhanger when Snow appeared to sway Katniss's opinion of the final bombing. I could feel myself winding up the scream NO! But, the ending was final. It didn't blow me away, but I was satisfied. I suppose their vote to extend the Hunger Games left the door open for another book. All right, but that scene seemed out of place, especially since it echoed the exact regime they just overthrew. Whatever. And the epilogue wasn't really necessary. Kind of an afterthought. Would've been better without it.
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